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Digital Spatial Profiling for Characterization of the Microenvironment in Adult-Type Diffusely Infiltrating Glioma
Published on: September 13, 2022
Highly Multiplexed Digital Spatial Profiling of the Tumor Microenvironment of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Arutha Kulasinghe1,2, Touraj Taheri3,4, Ken O'Byrne1,2,5
1The School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.
Background:
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have shown durable and long-term benefits in a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. To identify patient-responders from non-responders, biomarkers are needed which are predictive of outcome to ICI therapy. Cues in the tumor microenvironment (TME) have been informative in understanding the tumor-immune contexture.
Methods:
In this preliminary study, the NanoString GeoMx™ Digital Spatial Profiling (DSP) technology was used to determine the immune marker and compartment specific measurements in a cohort of HNSCC tumors from patients receiving ICI therapy.
Results:
Our data revealed that markers involved with immune cell infiltration (CD8 T-cells) were not predictive of outcome to ICI therapy. Rather, a number of immune cell types and protein markers (CD4, CD68, CD45, CD44, CD66b) were found to correlate with progressive disease. Cross platform comparison with the Opal Vectra (Perkin Elmer) for a number of markers across similar regions of interest demonstrated concordance for pan-cytokeratin, CD8, and PD-L1.
Conclusion:
This study, to our knowledge, represents the first digital spatial analysis of HNSCC tumors. A larger cohort of HNSCC will be required to orthogonally validate the findings.
Insights
Biomarkers predicting head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are needed. Digital spatial profiling revealed certain immune cell markers correlate with progressive disease, not treatment response in HNSCC.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) offer durable benefits for some head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients.
- Predictive biomarkers are crucial for identifying responders versus non-responders to ICI therapy.
- Tumor microenvironment (TME) characteristics offer insights into tumor-immune interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate immune marker and compartment-specific measurements in HNSCC tumors from patients undergoing ICI therapy.
- To identify potential biomarkers predictive of ICI treatment outcomes in HNSCC.
- To utilize NanoString GeoMx™ Digital Spatial Profiling (DSP) technology for this analysis.
Main Methods:
- Employed NanoString GeoMx™ Digital Spatial Profiling (DSP) technology.
- Analyzed immune markers and cellular compartments within HNSCC tumor samples.
- Compared DSP findings with Opal Vectra (Perkin Elmer) for marker concordance.
Main Results:
- CD8 T-cell infiltration markers did not predict ICI therapy outcome.
- Immune cell types and protein markers (CD4, CD68, CD45, CD44, CD66b) correlated with progressive disease.
- Concordance was observed for pan-cytokeratin, CD8, and PD-L1 markers across platforms.
Conclusions:
- This study is the first digital spatial analysis of HNSCC tumors.
- Findings suggest certain immune markers may indicate poor prognosis rather than treatment response.
- A larger HNSCC cohort is necessary for orthogonal validation of these preliminary findings.
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